Revelation 21

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: 

for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; 

and there was no more sea. 

2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 

3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, 

Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: 

 for the former things are passed away. 

5 And he that sat upon the throne said, 

Behold, I make all things new. 

And he said unto me, Write: 

for these words are true and faithful. 

6 And he said unto me, 

It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 

7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.  

8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, 

Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. 

10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 

15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. 17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. 

18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: 

and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 

19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 

21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: 

and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. 

22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 

23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 

24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: 

and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 

25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 

26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 

27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: 

but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Baptism in water & baptism in the Holy Ghost

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

You can go to heaven without being baptized in water (thief on the cross as example), but you cannot go to heaven without being baptized in the Holy Ghost which Jesus does (Jn. 1) ... for to be baptized in the Holy Ghost only comes through Jesus and that is what it means "to be born again".

Jn. 1 ... 29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.  30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. 31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 32 And John bare record, saying,  I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.


What does it mean to be baptized with the holy Ghost?

Only Jesus can do this.

Before Jesus was crucified, HE said to his disciples ... It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.  Jn. 16:7

Prior to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, the Holy Ghost was not given to all persons who believe.

But after the crucifixion, to the New Covenant church, all who believed were given the Holy Ghost.

Eph. 1 ... 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:  4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,  

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.  

7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:   

11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.  13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

We can be baptized in water and still not be born again.  That happened to me.  I was baptized in water when I was 15 years old.  I didn't want to go to hell.  I equated joining a church and being baptized in water as not going to hell.  So I went forth at church and was baptized in water.  But nothing changed.  My life after this was the same.  I never thought of what God wanted.  I just pursued what I wanted.

When I was 37 years old, I was reading a book about sin and God spoke to me by HIS Spirit and said:  "Joan ... you know all those mistakes you've been making all these years? ... Those weren't mistakes ... Those were sins."  I was very shocked:  "Sins?"  I was instantly changed!  Now I thought of God all the time.  I wanted to read Bible.

What happened to me?  I was baptized in the Holy Ghost by Jesus, by truth.  I was now born again, a new creature.

Jesus says:  I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Born of water and the Spirit? ... I believe this means being born of the water of the truth of the Word and being given the Spirit of God to live in you.

When the Spirit of God lives in us, we have the following promises of Jesus as to what the Spirit of God does for us.

Jn. 14:26 ... But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Jn. 16:13 ... Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Four things listed in the above scriptures concerning the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of truth:
- He will teach you all things (secular and spiritual)
- He will remind you of that which Jesus has said
- He will guide you into all truth
- He will show you things to come

You cannot make this happen.  You can join a church and even be baptized in water and not be born again.  Only Jesus (God) can cause us to be born again and that is done by the will of God as we are given the Spirit of God to dwell in us and lead us in all things.

Romans 8 ...  8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 

...  11But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.  12Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:  

And it is the Spirit of God Who searches the heart of God to show to us that which God thinks so that we can follow God.

I Cor. 2 ... 6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.  

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 

13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 

14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.


There are people who attend church who are dead as door nails.  They try to be spiritual by what they do, by their own idea of what is spiritual.  They do not have the Spirit of God.  They are not born again by the Spirit of God.  They may have been baptized in water but they have not been baptized by Jesus and given the Holy Ghost of Jesus to live inside them.  They follow God by their own minds and not by the Spirit.  But only the Spirit of God knows the heart of God and you cannot follow God without having the Spirit of God to reveal to you what God wants you to do.

I have often read Luke 6 and have thought how I can't do those things spoken by Jesus in this passage of scripture.

Lk. 6 ...Jesus says ... 27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, 28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. 29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. 30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. 31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. 32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. 33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: 38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. 

Do we really given to every man who asks us to give?   Does anyone really do this?  We have all manner of people trying to get money from us, both in secular and religious circles.

Here is where the Holy Spirit rules.

Organizations like Salvation Army give free food to able bodied men who are not working.

Paul says:  10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. II Thess. 3

So what do we do?

This is where the Holy Spirit comes in to show us what to do.  Remember that one thing the Holy Spirit does is to remind us of all that Jesus (the Word) says ... The Holy Spirit leads us in the will of God in the specific moment of this life.  We are reminded of something to show us the will of God in the case before us.  Without the Holy Spirit it is impossible to know the will of God.

You can try to follow the letter of the law but you will fail this way.

In Lk. 6, Jesus is showing us how impossible it is without the Spirit of God.

Revelation 19 & 20

Revelation 19

And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, 

Alleluia; 

Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: 

2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. 

3 And again they said, 

Alleluia. 

And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. 

4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, 

Amen; 

Alleluia.
 
5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, 

Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 

6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, 

Alleluia: 

 for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 

7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: 

for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 

8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.  

9 And he saith unto me, Write, 

Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. 

And he saith unto me, 

These are the true sayings of God. 

10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. 

And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: 

worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, 

and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 

12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 

13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: 

and his name is called The Word of God. 

14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 

15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: 

and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: 

and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 

16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, 

KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 

17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, 

Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. 

19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 

20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 

21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.




Revelation 20

And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: 

and after that he must be loosed a little season. 

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: 

and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image,  neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 

5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 

7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 

9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 

10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 

11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: 

and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; 

and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: 

and they were judged every man according to their works.  

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Nothing too hard for God

Genesis 18:13 And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

14 Is any thing too hard for the Lord?

At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.


Comments by Pam Padgett

While thinking of nothing being too hard for God and that God will do what He has said, I recalled God helping me last winter with a problem that completely overwhelmed me ...

Early one morning I woke to find various problems in my house from power outages.  Alarms on power strips were sounding, there was the smell of something hot or smoldering, and there was no power in various parts of the house.  Even small electrical problems scare me and now there were problems all around me.  In addition, I hadn't slept well for a few nights previous to this so was unusually tired.  Seeing all the electrical problems completely overwhelmed me.  All I could see to do was unplug all electrical devices and crawl back into bed.

As I lay in bed, fears came of the possibility of an electrical fire and that I'd need to get the animals and maybe a few other things out of the house.  But I was so overwhelmed that the thought of trying to make any preparations was just too much for me. 

I started talking to God, telling Him how overwhelmed I was, and laying my fears out before Him, asking Him to protect us.  But mostly, I told God how overwhelmed I was and that I never wanted to get out of bed again.  The thought of having to face all of these problems was just too overwhelming for me. 

Then my attention was drawn to the very strong winds blowing outside with the thought that just as God is so powerful that He directs and controls the winds, He is powerful enough to help me with these problems.  I had no strength at all, but this thought from the Holy Spirit reminded me that God is all powerful and He is able to help me.  Focusing on this, I was strengthened and calmed, and able to get out of bed.

Step by step, one thought from the Holy Spirit after another, I was shown what to do in order to get power safely restored and to get items that were damaged by the outages repaired or replaced. 

When people trouble you

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Several weeks ago, God gave me a word concerning doing business with people who trouble you.  It was attached to an instruction given by Jesus to his disciples when HE sent them forth.

Mt. 10... And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. 12And when ye come into an house, salute it. 13And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.


At the time I was shown this, I was looking for a lawn mowing and care service.

Through this need, I was shown some basic principles.  If there is trouble in working with the people, discontinue the service and find someone else.  Don't try to continue with someone who robs you of peace when you try to work with them.

I found one lawn service I liked.  Their work was good.  But every time I had to contact their office, there was trouble.  Everything was done by email.  They did not want to talk by phone.  This seemed OK to me since I prefer email to phone.  But it turned out strangely.

First, when I told them I needed to give them a key to back gate, they said they didn't keep keys.  I replied that I would need to find another service.  Then I was told they would keep key.

Second, they began billing me at the end of each week.  I asked to be billed monthly.  They responded and said they did not bill monthly.  I replied I would need to get another service for weekly billing would just be too difficult for me to keep up with.  Then they said they would bill monthly.

Third, on their emails, they asked me to click "like" on facebook.  I responded that we do not do facebook.

I received another email and they asked me to click "like" on facebook.  I explained again we do not do face book and requested they not ask me to do this again.  Then I received response telling me that facebook request was placed on all of their communications and to just ignore it.  I replied, "OK" but that troubled me ... To ignore a request is a pattern of life that seemed wrong to me.

With that I discontinued their service.  While I liked the lawn work, I was troubled over and over by the office communication. 



(It is interesting for Pam was immediately troubled by things I told her about this lawn service.  They were trying to be so "big" and they were so focused on internet and doing everything by internet with big, impressive web site.  Pam lives in another city which is 400 + miles away but the spirit in her was troubled and she reacted very strongly against this company.  This is unusual for Pam to do.  She is such a low key person.)  

So finally I quit and found someone else.  I probably stayed with this service longer than I should have stayed.  At the first sign of trouble from the office response, I should have quit.  It turned out I had to quit anyway but I think it was harder to quit later than it would have been had I quit the first week.  (I was only with them for about 3 weeks as it turned out.)

This same example pertains to a doctor.  He is a specialist in treating glaucoma eye disease.  I did not like going to his office.  People were treated like cattle and the office staff showed signs of annoyance if they were asked a question by a patient. (I should have quit then.)  But at one point this doctor frightened me very much.  When I prayed about this, I saw to find another doctor.  God showed me how to go about finding another doctor.  I made the change and it has worked out well.

We must not be afraid to change when our peace is stolen from us by someone.

"Enquire who is worthy" ... stay with them, so long as you can be there in peace ... But if peace keeps being removed and you keep being troubled, move elsewhere as quickly as possible. 

We, as humans, do not like change.  Therefore when we are troubled, we tend to stay in spite of the trouble.

What I believe God has shown me is to leave when you are troubled ... leave immediately ... no benefit of the doubt ... find someone else where you can live in peace ...

Certainly we expect to see lots of trouble in days ahead ... since people will get worse and worse, not better but worse.

Paul told us:  13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. II Tim. 3

Remain where there is peace ... depart when you are troubled (when you can depart).

Of course, always pray about everything!  But be very careful about benefit of the doubt when you are troubled ... try that spirit that is telling you to stay when you are troubled!

Revelation 17 & 18

Revelation 17

And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, 

Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. 

3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:  5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.  

6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. 

8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. 

9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. 

The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. 

10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. 

11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. 

12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. 13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
 
14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. 

15 And he saith unto me, 

The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. 

16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. 17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. 

18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth. 




Revelation 18

And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, 

Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.  

4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, 

Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 

6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. 

7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. 

8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. 

9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, 10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. 

11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: 12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,  13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.  

14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. 

15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16 And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! 

17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. 

And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, 18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! 19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! 

for in one hour is she made desolate. 

20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. 

21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying,  

Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. 

22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; 23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. 

24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

Be sober

Pam Padgett - teacher

A scripture God has been using in my life for the past several weeks is  Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, ... (1 Peter 1:13)

One way we stay sober is to pay attention to the truth God shows us about those we come in contact with.  In the past I've made excuses for seemingly "little" things others said or did that troubled me, wanting to think well of everyone and for them to think well of me.  I didn't want to see truth that showed problems, and as a result have deceived myself. 

But when I pay attention to the truth God shows me, being sober, it helps me see the situation as it is and not deceive myself by fantasy-type thinking. 

One of my neighbors is a woman I worked with about twenty years ago.  She and her husband have now retired and she has a small dog grooming business in their home.  I have taken my dog to be groomed at her shop a couple times in the past.  The dog needs to be groomed again.  At one time I probably would have made another appointment with this neighbor without giving much thought to this since I've known her so long and would have felt a type of obligation to support her business as a  "friend". 

But God has shown me truth which causes me to go another way: 

- although we've known each other a long time, we're not friends.  A friend is on the same side as another, but this woman and I are going in opposite ways.  This woman is of the world, going in ways of the world such as using deception to receive unemployment benefits and vacationing with her mother and sister in Las Vegas (a place known for such things as gambling).  She has even shown that she doesn't consider me a friend as she didn't return a call I made for several weeks and then only because she was stirred up to spread some sensational type news she had heard.

I would deceive myself to consider that we are friends, and this deception would lead to more deception in the form of a false sense of obligation.  And to be a friend of the world makes me an enemy of God. (James 4:4)  I am not obligated in any way to have this woman groom my dog.  My obligation is to serve God, to do as led by the Holy Spirit in all my ways. 

- in the past when I've taken my dog to be groomed by her, she has cut the hair much shorter than we had discussed.  With colder temperatures and snow starting to come, a very short haircut will not work.  The dog needs a reasonable length of hair to stay warm in the cold weather.   

Instead of feeling obligated to this neighbor and overlooking past grooming problems, I prayed about where to take the dog to be groomed and was reminded of a groomer I used some years ago, and was able to get an appointment with that groomer. 

Overcoming

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

We cannot allow the world to overcome.

Here is an example:

I wrote lawn service today to ask them to fill in a hole.  I mentioned their work has been good.

I received a reply saying next week they will send someone to fill in the hole.  And then the lawn service said:  "Check "like" on facebook."

I have told this woman before that we do not do facebook.

I prayed about what to do and I wrote her the following ..."We do not do facebook ...Please stop asking us to check 'like'. We just want lawn service.  Thanks,  Joan Boney"

As soon as I wrote this, I felt peace again.  The world was no longer ruling.  I was ruling.

===========

Yesterday, I was telling my cleaning woman about going to doctor.  I told her doctor wanted me to take tetanus shot.  Then he offered diphtheria shot.  (It's been years since I have even heard the word "diphtheria".)  He also offered blood test to see if I have cancer.  (No sign of cancer problem but he offered it anyway.) I declined these shots he offered and blood test.  I even declined flu shots which many people take.  But this doctor's own nurse, who also offered flu shot to me, said she doesn't take flu shot.  I found same thing in the rehab hospital a few years ago when they offered me flu shot.  None of the nurses I asked took flu shot.  (I told doctor this.)

After I told cleaning woman these things, she said:  "Sounds like you're the doctor." 

Doctors rule over most people and people often look at their doctors as a gods of some kind.  I think it likely this cleaning woman is this way.

I felt badly that I shared this with her.  But then when I tested that spirit that was coming to make me feel I had done wrong by sharing this, I found that spirit was not of God.  That spirit was accusing me for speaking truth.

Spirit of truth speaks truth ... Devil covers up and tries to appease humans.

We who are of God have of the Spirit of Truth, Holy Spirit, in us.

Is it truth?  Often God has me measure what I say by these words ... "Is it truth?"

The truth we speak will separate us from the world.

Corrected while reading Revelation 18

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

A few days ago, I was reading Revelation 18 about the fall of Babylon ... and how the people who were not of God grieved over the loss of Babylon and the loss of the way to make money ...

I thought of the grief I feel over the loss of those two towers, World Trade Center, NYC.  (My sadness was over the loss of the structures themselves for they appealed to me in form.   I don't feel this way over any other structure on this earth.)

And I repented of clinging to anything of this present world.

We know in the end God will shake the heavens and earth and everything will pass away and be destroyed.

I don't want to be clinging to anything that can be destroyed for it will all pass away.

II Peter 3 ... 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
 
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?  13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Everything we can see with our natural eyes will be destroyed in the Day of the Lord.... even these human bodies we now live in will be destroyed and we will be changed instantly into another form which is incorruptible, not subject to disease and deterioration (corruption) as the bodies we now live in.

If we are holding to anything that we can see with our natural eyes, we need to repent.  For it will all be destroyed in the Day of the Lord.

Purity of the Book of Revelation

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

The book of Revelation gives us an opportunity to see into heaven.

We see the judgment of God upon this present earth.

We see the establishment of the new heaven and the new earth wherein dwelleth only righteousness.

We see that which lies in store for those who belong to God.

We see the permanent demise of evil and the permanent placement of good forever.

This book is very pure.

As I read it, I have learned to simply rejoice in what it says without trying to understand of my own mind details.

It is a triumph of good over evil.

And it shows God.

I find I rejoice as I read each chapter in Revelation.

Revelation 15 & 16

Revelation: 15

And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; 

for in them is filled up the wrath of God. 

2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, 

Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.  

 4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
 
5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: 

6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. 

7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. 

8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.





Revelation 16

And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, 

Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. 

2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image. 

3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea. 

4 And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood. 5And I heard the angel of the waters say, 

Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus. 6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. 

7 And I heard another out of the altar say, 

Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.
 
 8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: 

and they repented not to give him glory.  

10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, 11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, 

and repented not of their deeds.
 
 12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. 

13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.   

15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 

16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, 

It is done. 

18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. 

19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. 

20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 

21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: 

and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

Hebrews 12:1-2

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The wrath of God poured out without mixture

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Revelation 14 ... And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; 

and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 

11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.


When the wrath of God is poured out upon those who have the mark of the beast, that wrath with be "without mixture" ... that wrath will not be diluted but full strength ,,, the wrath of God will not be watered down ... it will be pure wrath ...

Humans tend to water down judgments, giving their "mercy" to the unjust, giving the benefit of the doubt.

This will not be the case when the wrath of God comes upon those who worship the beast.  They will receive the full wrath of God and it will be a just wrath, not watered down to please man.

Revelation: Chapter 14

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. 

2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: 

and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 

3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.  5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
 
6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: 

and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 

8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 

9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; 
and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 

11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: 

and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 

12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.  

14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 

15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.  

16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. 

17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 

18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. 

19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

Book of Revelation

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

If you will look on the right hand side of blog, you will see we have added the book of Revelation ... I wanted to do this for myself.  You might benefit also.

I've enjoyed reading through Revelation.

Usually when Revelation comes up in my "reading through the Bible", I am a little afraid of the book and would really like to avoid reading it.  And yet we are promised a blessing by reading this book.

Rev. 1:3 ... Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.


This time, I've enjoyed reading Revelation and want to read it again ... I like having the chapters broken up in specific lines as we printed on the blog.

So I fixed this to be able to get to the various chapters easily by listing them on the "permanent" writings shown on the right side of blog.

Reading the book of Revelation

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

It is a great pleasure to read the book of Revelation if you do not try to pick it to pieces with interpretation.

When I read Revelation, I just read, allowing that word to "wash" over me.  Not trying to figure it all out.

I've never enjoyed the book of Revelation more than I have enjoyed reading through it this time.

We see an end to evil and the establishment of good forever.

Revelation: Chapter 13 & 14

Revelation 13

And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.  

2And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: 

and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 

3And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.  4And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 

5And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.  

6And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 

7And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 

9If any man have an ear, let him hear. 10He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
 
11And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 

13And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 

14And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 

15And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.  

16And he causeth all, both small and great,  rich and poor,  free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:  17And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 

18Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Revelation 14

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, 

and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. 

2And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.  5And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
 
6And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: 

and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 

8And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 

9And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 

12Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 

13And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.  

14And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 

15And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.  

16And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. 

17And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 

18And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. 

19And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.  

Power of God seen

Pam Padgett - teacher

Psalm 148:7 Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: 8 Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:


Comments by Pam Padgett

When we see such things as fire, hail, and storms we see the will and power of God and the futility of trusting in man.

Those of the world see such things as natural disasters.  Attributing these things to what they call "mother nature" without acknowledging God.  And they praise each other in rebuilding afterwards, and try to look for ways to protect from these things in the future.

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

But we see the power of God, and stand in awe, and praise Him in our hearts.  

Many years ago I worked as a temporary secretary on an upper floor of a tall building in Oklahoma City.  From my desk I could see through a large window as a storm moved toward the city.  Lightning was flashing across the sky.  The man I worked for came to my desk and started talking about  how much electricity was in a single bolt of lightning and how the electricity in a single bolt of lightning could power a large city.  I told him this was power of God and that it truly is amazing. 

A little more than a year ago wild fires were burning near where I live now.  Temperatures were very hot for this area with no rain and extremely strong winds.  The firefighters were unable to hold back the fire and it burned many homes.  During press conferences, a spokesman for the firemen said that, as hard as they were working, they were unable to contain the fire because of the weather conditions.  One afternoon the winds shifted toward my house, and I decided to evacuate.  As I was driving away, I was very aware that God was in control of what happened.  Because of this, I didn't panic, but I committed my house to God to do as He willed.  That night, while still a few miles away from my house, the fire was turned when the winds shifted again.  I returned home the following day.  

When the winds calmed and temperatures decreased and a little rain came days later, the firemen were able to put the fire out.  Some people put up signs thanking the firefighters for saving their houses.  But this was of God, not man.   

Aftermath of going to doctor

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

This past week, I had to go to doctor for yearly exam.  I would not be doing this except for the fact that to get prescription for Ambiem doctor requires a yearly exam.

Prior to going to doctor, I was praying about going, asking God for help and I heard this from the Holy Spirit ... "Just answer his questions."  This is what I did.  This is third time I've seen this doctor.  He already knows I don't want to do lab work, no blood tests.  I'm just there to get Ambium for sleeping due to operation following accident and bone broken in hip which cannot be repaired.  I can take pain medicine for sleep or Ambium.  I selected Ambium because there is no after effect when I take this.

At doctor's office, I declined all the various shots he offered me ... tetanus, diphtheria, flu ... I declined his offer for blood tests which he said would show if I have cancer ...

Then he said I should exercise ... I had considered doing more walking even before going to doctor's appointment so this seemed reasonable to me ...

This morning I prayed about exercise and was reminded of the following:

I Tim. 4 ... refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 8For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

God saying to me, "Don't get all caught up in this thinking it to be a good thing ... It is worldly thinking."

Doctor said I should eat Tums for calcium ... and take some kind of vitamin, I can't recall the letter name of the vitamin ... (Past experience with vitamins ... when people have insisted I take such ... the bottle just sits in my cabinet and eventually I throw it away)

But this morning I did ask God about the calcium and the vitamin  ... and I was reminded of Elijah ...

I Kings 17 ... And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 3Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 4And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. 5So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 6And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.


I believe God was telling me:  "Don't get all caught up in vitamins and calcium and such ... You'll be fine with the foods you are eating."  (Once before when I considered foods, I was reinded of Elijah and what God fed him with ... bread and flesh twice a day...  no fruits or vegatables)  Certainly I have the option of adding such things as fruits, vegatables and I do eat these from time to time but there is no regimented formula such as they do at doctor's office where they say 3 servings a day and such.

The point is this:  The world, especially medical world, can put us into unnecessary bondages thinking it is wise.  God knows the truth about all things.  So when we belong to God and ask HIM what to do, we can free ourselves from unnecessary slavery to wisdom of man.  (Of course it must be done through faith in God and an ability to recognize the speaking of the Holy Spirit which is Spirit of Truth in matter at hand.)

Religious works

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Yesterday I went to Wall-Mart ... As I was waiting in the check out line in electric cart, a woman behind me said, "Here ... let me put those groceries up there for you."  I really didn't need her to do this but she was so insistent I allowed her to put the groceries on the check out belt.

We began talking after she had unloaded the groceries from my cart.  She said she had 3 hip replacements and they didn't get it right and she needed to go back and have it redone but she had heart trouble and her doctor wouldn't permit her going in for another operation at this time.

I replied, "You shouldn't be unloading my groceries with all these problems."

She lit up and said she was glad to be able to do this.  (I'm able to do this also and there was no need for her to do this but she really wanted to do this.)

Twice as we spoke she said to me, "God bless you."

I was shocked ... How can she say that when she knows nothing at all about me?

II Jn ... 9Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.


I did not respond to this woman at all.  The Holy Spirit did not give me anything at all to say to her.

This morning, I was thinking of how people do all sorts of religious works.  I see football on TV and players often do some form of religious sign by taping themselves on the chest and pointing a finger into the sky.  Some players cross themselves like the Catholics do.  Some bow their heads and fall on their knees and pray after they make a good play.  None of this means anything.  This woman apparently thought she was doing a good work.  But it was a work I did not need done.  It made her feel good in her flesh but it meant nothing.  And her saying "God bless you" twice to a stranger seemed like she was trying to do some kind of religious witness.  (She had no idea I belong to God and am HIS servant.)

This morning I was looking at Hebrews 4 ... There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.  10For he that is entered into HIS rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His.
11Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief


I thought of the following:

Phil. 3 ... Paul says ... Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. 2Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
 
4Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law,  blameless. 

7But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
 
9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.


There is such a big difference between religious works authored by the will of humans ... and religious works authored by the Spirit of God.

Obviously works that do not need to be done are futile works from the mind of the human and profit nothing.

Only those works authored by God through HIS Spirit are works of God.  Every thing else is a work of our own flesh and to be avoided.

Proverbs 14:25

A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.

deliver:
- set free
- save from evil or danger
- rescue


Comments by Pam Padgett

When we speak truth, it gives those who hear an opportunity to see the truth and be set free from what is not true.  And we are set free from those who don't hear and continue in evil and dangerous ways, for they want nothing more to do with us. 

But when we hide the truth we have been reminded of by the Holy Spirit in order to fit in or not offend, we are deceitful.  We pretend to know no more than they, although we have the Holy Spirit guiding us into all truth.  There is no light in the matter when we hide truth.  They continue in evil and dangerous ways, and we continue to be bound with them. 

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

We shall be changed ... these fleshly bodies don't go with us when we leave this earth

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

The apostle Paul told us the following:

I Cor. 15 ... Paul says ... 51Behold, I shew you a mystery; 

We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed, 

52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 

53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?  56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
 58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 


In the blink of an eye, it will all happen.  Blink your eyes.  That is how fast this will happen.  The last trump will sound ... the dead shall rise incorruptible (not with the fleshly bodies used by them on this present earth) ... and we will be changed from our fleshly bodies and will be given a new "body" which is "incorruptible" ... a body that has no decay, no deterioration, no disease, no pain, no tears ... a body that is not anything like this present body.

God gives us a body "as HE wills" ...

I Cor. 15 ... But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? 

36Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: 

37And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain,  it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: 

38But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. 

39All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men,  another flesh of beasts,  another of fishes, and another of birds. 40There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. 

42So also is the resurrection of the dead. 

It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 

48As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 

49And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 

50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 

========

Romans 14:8 ... For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. 

It doesn't matter whether we die before the Lord returns or whether we are alive when Jesus returns.

What matters is belonging to God.

Prayer before going to doctors

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

I do have a respect for the medical profession.  It is just that I realize they are going a different way from the way I choose to go.  While they practice "preventive" medicine, I choose to go more in the following direction ... 12But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.  Mt. 9

So unless I have a need, I do not go to a doctor.

Four years ago, I fell over a box and broke a hip.  During surgury, a bone in my leg shattered.  When I lie down at night, I have some pain, even now ... But instead of taking pain medicine, I chose to take Ambium CR ... which is a type of pill to help with sleep.  I've been taking it nightly for 4 years.  I awaken each morning with a very clear head so I am able to function normally.

For this reason, I do go to a doctor yearly which is required by him in order for him to prescribe the Ambium during the year.

Yesterday was my yearly appointment.  I began praying yesterday morning before the appointment ... especially prayed that he would not do any more than really needed.  I was concerned as I always am concerned when I have to go to doctor.

Last year he wanted me to take blood tests, which is a regular part of yearly exam.  I convinced him I did not want to take blood test.  But I suspected he would return to this subject.  Last year he ended up saying, "Well, you really don't need a blood test for an Ambium prescription."  I was delighted.

This year, before going to my appointment, I heard following from Holy Spirit ... "Just answer his questions."  (I don't have to volunteer a lot of extra information.)

One of the first things he said to me after looking at my past chart is:  "You still don't want to take blood tests to find out if you have cancer?"  I replied, "No ..."  He dropped the subject.

Then he asked, "How long has it been since you have had a tetanus shot?"  I replied:  "Probably never."  (I was born in 1937 in New Mexico, USA, and at that time I doubt they gave such."

He said he would like me to have a tetanus shot.  I replied that I didn't want to do that.  He said if I stepped on a nail it would be good to have.  I replied that I never go out of the house, except in my car.  (and I'm 77)  He dropped the subject.

He said, "Then what about a diphtheria shot?"  I said I didn't want to do that.

He asked, "How about a flu shot?"  I replied I considered it 4 years ago when in hospital after that accident but none of the nurses took flu shots so I decided not to do so and I did fine.  (Even this doctor's nurse told me she doesn't take flu shot.)

Then this doctor said I should avoid crowds.  I was happy to agree to do that.  I hate going into crowds.

I told him I prefer taking the Ambium to pain medicine and that I do a lot of heavy mental work and when I awaken after the Ambium I always have a very clear head.  Then he said:  "Then lets continue with Ambium."  I was delighted.

He told me to just have the pharmacy fax the request when I need refill and they will refill it.

I left his office rejoicing.

As I was leaving, a woman who is about my age was coming in for her appointment.  She was using a walker and looked sick.  I thought doctor could probably do a lot of things to her.

Most people probably allow doctors to do whatever seem good to the doctor.  And maybe most people are trying to stay on this present earth as long as possible.  And the only way they know to try to do this is through doctors.

But I know some other things.

Forgiving those who trespass against you and keeping your heart pure with God is very important to physical well being.  

Prov. 3 ... 7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. 8It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Before doctor came into room, they gave me a 5 page form to fill out.  On the form it asked if I am ever depressed.  They had boxes to check to tell level of depression.  I wrote to the side of this question the following:  "Never depressed ... pray ... God ..."

There were several questions about depression and each time I wrote NOT depress because I turn to God in prayer 

Prov. 3 ... 6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 

"acknowledge HIM" ... pray about all your concerns ... settle each concern with God in prayer ... 

Psalm 125:1

They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.

Matt. 7:7-11

Matt 7 7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Helped by God with concern

Pam Padgett - teacher

Recently the cat of my elderly neighbor, Jim, became ill for no apparent reason.  He asked me to take the cat to a pet emergency clinic where tests were run and the symptoms were treated.  The cat was sent home a couple days later, but the cause of the problem was not known.  Jim was very worried and made an appointment to take the cat to the regular vet hoping they might find the cause of the problem. 

But a few days before the appointment the cat was no longer sick.  It was eating, drinking water, and even grooming itself.   I was concerned that the cat, as well as Jim and even me, would be put through much more than necessary by taking it to the vet when it was no longer sick.  This cat gets extremely scared, and vicious when scared.  Just taking the cat to the vet is traumatic for everyone involved.  And then the cat would probably be given more tests or procedures even though it was no longer sick. 

I prayed about my concern. 

Later, while talking with Jim, I told him that something very minor could have caused the type of problem his cat experienced.  Cats can be very sensitive.

Then I was reminded by the Holy Spirit of something that happened to me many years ago and I told him about this.  At the time I had a cat that became sick and the vet couldn't find the problem.  But God showed me the problem was something I had fed the cat.  I told Jim I wasn't saying that his cat got sick from something it had eaten, but that it could be something very minor like this that a vet couldn't find. 

Jim paused, then told me that he keeps thinking about something.  A cleaning woman comes to clean his house periodically, and the last time she was there she had decided to wash the cat's bowl (she usually doesn't do this).  He wondered if maybe a little of the cleaning chemicals had been left in the bowl.  That could easily have started the problem!

He said no more about needing to find the cause of the problem. And as the cat continued to do well, he cancelled the vet appointment. 

God's praise

Psalm 111:10 ...

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom:
a good understanding have all they that do His commandments:
HIS praise endureth for ever.

Time no longer ?

Revelation 10 ... And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, 6And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:


Comments by Joan Boney ...

We, on this earth, are ruled by time ... 

It is time to get up ...
It is time to go to bed ...
It is time to eat ...
It is time to work ...
It is time to read, watch TV

To think of having time no longer is a concept that defies us.

In another Revelation passage, I read about the thousands upon thousands around the throne of God ...

Rev. 5:11 ... And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

thousand times ten thousand ... and thousands of thousands ...

For a minute I wondered how I could stand hearing so many ... on earth I avoid crowds ... (I was a little frightened)

But this is in heaven ... these are the good voices, praising God rather than man ...


We are so constructed to thinking in terms of this earth that some of the things in Revelation are concepts we can't imagine.  And we can be frightened at the removal of that which we know.

But then we realize all things in heaven will be wonderful beyond description and we accept this by faith.

Romans 12:1-2

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

(not) conformed:
- (don't) be the same or similar to
- (don't) be in accord or agreement
- (don't)  behave in a conventional way, esp. in accepting without question customs, traditions, prevailing opinions

transformed:
- changed

renew:
- making new again by replacing the old (replace ways of the world with ways of God)

Isaiah 2:22

Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of? 

Comments by Joan Boney:

What difference does it make what man's says?  It is God WHO matters.  Focus on that which God says.

Here is the fate of man.

Isaiah 2 ... Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty. 

11The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. 

12For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: 13And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan, 14And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up, 15And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall, 16And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures.  

17And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. 18And the idols he shall utterly abolish.  

19And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.  

20In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;   21To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. 

Therefore:


22Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of? 


Why should I care what he thinks ... he who has no power ... Fear God and consider that which God thinks and desire to know that which God thinks about the matter at hand.  This is what matters.